G-D school-chief hopeful: Students are 'global citizens'

GROTON -- The Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee was told by a finalist for superintendent that her approach to addressing the whole student was to "look at them as global citizens."

Kristan Rodriguez, assistant superintendent in the Chelmsford public school system, was replying to a question by member Thomas Steinfeld about what her vision was toward educating the "whole child."

Rodriguez appeared before the School Committee Wednesday as the first of two finalists chosen from 25 candidates who submitted resumes to a screening committee last year.

She and Theodore Friend, superintendent of Sutton Public Schools, are finalists to replace interim Superintendent Anthony Bent who has been filling in since 2012, when Joseph Mastrocola resigned.

Members asked Rodriguez how she would approach the job in her first days.

Rodriguez said she would start by attending School Committee meetings before meeting with concerned groups including parents, teachers and local officials to find out the issues important to them and the community.

Those meetings would culminate in a series of "entry goals" she would set for herself.

"I want to let people see my face before the next school year begins," said Rodriguez.

She complimented school officials on the condition of their buildings which allowed staff to concentrate on education.

Rodriguez emphasized the need for professional development among faculty members and for setting standards and expectations.

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She stressed the need for follow-through on all training and programs and especially noted the need to develop online courses to provide instructors with more flexibility.

Rodriguez also insisted good communication and shared goals were key to effective cooperation with the School Committee.

"It's vital that there is a partnership," said Rodriguez.

With a shortfall of $464,485 discovered recently in the district's budget, members were keen on discovering the candidate's position on the formulation process.

"I have been involved in all aspects of the budget," said Rodriguez of her experience at Chelmsford, emphasizing transparency at all stages.

What form the budget would take, she said, was "really about the community and the needs of the school district."

Rodriguez said what needed to be done first in any formulation process was to look internally, judge the situation, and decide what could be done immediately before moving on to spending. Also, the administration had to prioritize its needs while checking to see if there was any way to generate more revenue.

Rodriguez said the first thing residents and town officials will ask when presented with a budget is what the schools have done to keep new spending at a minimum.

"We need to let them know what our schools are all about before going for more money," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also preferred to rely on a data collection and analysis approach on determining the best way to make sure that the district is meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of its students.

She stressed a personal but pro-active approach, reaching out before students might need help.

Considering them "global citizens," Rodriguez said forming the whole child was important, including what role they take in contributing to the community and how they show respect to their peers. The schools must look at the students' full range of interests to determine growth in all areas and to help do that, every department in the district must be involved including that of technology.

"Technology is a part of almost everything we do in school," said Rodriguez when asked by John Giger how computers should be used in the district. "We have to use these tools."

Rodriguez said that in her tour of the district earlier in the day, she noticed how teachers were "willing and able" to use technology in their classrooms and that she would be no less connected using it to communicate with staff and community.

When asked by Luis DeLoureiro about how she intended to promote strong ties between Groton and Dunstable, she said she would make it a "priority" to attend community events, use cable-access television, and a newsletter for internal communication with staff.

"I would be in places that people find important," she said.

Rodriguez said she would help the School Committee in the governance of the district by creating goals they could share and participate with them in training offered by various educational groups, such as the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Rodriguez told members her intentions for the position were for the long-term.

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